Golf club travel case

ABSTRACT

A golf bag travel case for receiving a golf bag and a set of golf clubs. The travel case includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion adapted to be assembled together to define an enclosed interior for receiving the golf bag and the set of golf clubs. The travel case is also adapted to be disassembled by nesting the portions within one another to configure the travel case into an economy of space.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to travel cases and, more specifically, to a golf club travel case for protecting a golf bag and a set of golf clubs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Travel is a major source of damage to golf bags and golf clubs. As a result, there is a wide variety of golf bag travel cases known in the art. There are generally two kinds of types of cases for protecting the golf bag and clubs. The soft sided case is lightweight and easy to move and use. The soft sided case is easy to use because it conforms to the shape of the golf bag and clubs. It will also collapse into a relatively small size when not in use. However, soft sided cases are not capable of providing significant protection to the golf bag and clubs while traveling. The soft sided cases are too easily torn which exposes the golf bag and the golf clubs to damage. Moreover, the soft sided case itself is often too easily damaged to be cost effective.

[0003] Hard sided travel cases are also known in the art. Although the hard sided travel cases provide significantly more protection, the weight and size of hard sided cases are disadvantages. Once use of the hard sided travel case is no longer desired, it is not easily stored because of its large size. In particular, these hard sided cases can not be easily stored in a trunk of a vehicle.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an improved golf club travel case. The improved travel case must be capable of being packed away in an economy of space when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention solves the above-identified problems by providing a golf club travel case which is more easily utilized than other known travel cases while still providing the necessary level of protection while traveling. The travel case of the present invention is capable of being packed away in an economy of space.

[0006] Generally described, the golf bag travel case of the present invention is shaped to receive a golf club bag and a set of golf clubs. However, the golf club travel case may be disassembled to be packed away in an economy of space. The travel case includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion. These portions are adapted to be assembled together to define an enclosed interior for receiving the golf bag and the set of golf clubs. The first end portion has an open bottom end and a closed top end. The second end portion has an open top end and a closed bottom end. The middle portion has an open bottom end and an open top end. When the travel case is disassembled, the portions of the travel case are nested within one another to configure the travel case into an economy of space.

[0007] The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the golf club travel case of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the golf club travel case of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the orientation of each portion of the travel case relative to each other prior to being packed in an economy of space.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the travel case of FIG. 1 packed in an economy of space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a golf club travel case 10 of the present invention. The golf club travel case 10 is preferably made of hard impact resistant plastic such as polyurethane, preferably produced in a fluidizing rotator process, or other suitable material, known to those skilled in the art.

[0013] The golf club travel case 10 is elongated and includes a first end portion 12, a second end portion 14, and a middle portion 16. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the middle portion 16 is positioned between first end portion 12 and second end portion 14. The portions 12, 14 and 16 when assembled together define an overall length L of the travel case 10. In other words, the closed top end 22 of the first end portion 12 is displaced a distance equivalent to the length L from the closed bottom end 24 of the second end portion 14 when the portions 12, 14 and 16 are assembled to define the travel case 10. In one embodiment, the length L is approximately 1,340 mm, with the first end portion 12 being approximately 555 mm in length, the second end portion being 425 mm in length, and the middle portion 16 being approximately 520 mm in length. Because portions of the first end portion 12, second end portion 14, and middle portion 10 overlap each other when the travel case 10 is assembled, as described below, the sum of the lengths of each individual portion 12, 14 and 16 when separated from one another is greater than the length L of the assembled travel case 10. Although the travel case 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-4 includes three separate portions, the travel case 10 of the present invention may include any number of separate portions.

[0014] The assembled travel case 10 also defines an interior preferably sized to accommodate a golf bag (not shown) with the set of golf clubs (not shown) partially extending out of the top of the golf bag. Consequently, the second end portion 14 is sized relatively larger than the first end portion 12 in order to accommodate the bottom of the golf bag. Also, the middle portion 16 is preferably tapered such that the one of its ends is larger than the other. The first end portion 12 is also preferably slightly tapered. However, changes may be made to the shape and configuration of the travel case 10 itself, as well as to any of the separate portions 12, 14 and 16, to accommodate any particular brand or model of golf bag and golf clubs.

[0015] Still referring to FIG. 2, the first end 12 has an open bottom end 20 and a closed top end 22. Conversely, the second end portion 14 has a closed bottom end 24 and an open top end 26. The middle portion 16, however, includes an open bottom end 28 and an open top end 30. The open bottom end 20 of the first end portion 12 is configured to be received within the open top end 30 of the middle portion 16. The open bottom end 28 of the middle portion 16 is configured to be received within the open top end 26 of the second end portion 14. Preferably, the portions 12, 14 and 16 are slide or snap fit together to assemble the travel case 10. The travel case 10 may also include latches 34, or some other suitable mechanical fastener, for securing the portions 12, 14 and 16 together once the travel case 10 has been assembled.

[0016] Also, each portion 12, 14 and 16 of the travel case 10 preferably includes at least one exterior band which may be used to act as a stop when receiving or being received within an adjacent portion. For example, the band 36 on the first end portion 12 will abut the band 38 on the middle portion 16 when the first end portion 12 and the middle portion 16 are joined together. Also, the band 40 on the middle portion 16 will abut the band 42 on the second end portion 14 when the middle portion 16 and the second end portion 14 are joined together. Preferably, each of the bands 36, 38, 40 and 42 extend around the exterior periphery of each portion 12, 14 and 16 of the travel case 10. However, one or more of the bands 36, 38, 40 and 42 may instead extend only partly around or extend intermittently around its respective portion of the travel case 10. The bands 36, 38, 40 and 42 are defined by varying the thickness of various areas of each of the portions 12, 14 and 16. For example, areas 44 and 46 of the first end portion 12, on opposite sides of the band 36, may have a reduced thickness compared to the rest of the first end portion 12 and the band 36 which preferably have the same thickness.

[0017] The travel case 10 of the present invention may be disassembled such that it may be packed away into an economy of space. When disassembled and packed in an economy of space, the portions 12, 14 and 16 combined to have an overall length of less than one half the length L. Preferably, in one embodiment, where the length L is approximately 1340 mm, the travel case 10, when disassembled and packed into an economy of space, has an overall length of approximately 594 mm. The travel case 10 is disassembled by separating the first end portion 12 and the second end portion 14 from the middle portion 16 as shown in FIG. 2. However, before the travel case 10 can be packed away, the first end portion 12 and the middle portion 16 are inverted relative the second end portion 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Once the first end portion 12 and the middle portion 16 are inverted, the inverted middle portion 16 is then placed inside of the second end portion 14. The open top end 30 of the middle portion 16 is adjacent the inside of the closed bottom end 24 of the second end portion 14. The inverted first end portion 12 is then placed inside of the inverted middle portion 16 such that the closed top end 22 is adjacent the closed bottom end 24 of the second end portion 16. The closed top end 22 of the first end portion 12 is adjacent, or directly overlies, the closed bottom end 24 of the second end portion 14 because the middle portion 16 has open ends 28 and 30.

[0018]FIG. 4 illustrates the portions 12, 14 and 16 nested within each other when the travel case 10 is packed in an economy of space. The inverted middle portion 16 is nested between the inverted first end portion 12 and the second end portion 16. As best shown in FIG. 4, the open bottom end 28 of the inverted middle portion 16 is substantially flush with the open bottom end 20 of the inverted first end portion 12 when nested within one another. However, in the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4, the open bottom end 28 of the inverted middle portion 16 and the open bottom end 20 of the of the inverted first end portion 12 are not flush with the open top end 26 of the second end portion 14.

[0019] Still referring to FIG. 4, the travel case may also include an elongated flexible strap 66 for securing the nested portions 12, 14 and 16 together. One end of the strap 66 is coupled to one side of the open top end 26 of the second end portion 14 and is sufficiently long enough to extend over the top of the inverted first end portion 12 and the inverted middle portion 16 extending out from the open top end 26 of the second end portion 14 as shown in FIG. 4. The opposite end of the strap 66 may be directly coupled to the opposite side of the second end portion 14 or the strap 66 may be looped back onto itself, or overlaps itself, in a manner suitable for use with a buckle (not shown) or some other suitable mechanical fastener.

[0020] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first end portion 12 and the middle portion 16 include integral handles 50 and 52, respectively. The handles 50 and 52 with portions 12 and 16, respectively, are each preferably one-piece construction. The handles 50 and 52 may be also detachable. However, the handles 50 and 52 may take other forms such as a permanently or detachable strap to provide a convenient handhold. In any embodiment, the handles 50 and 52 are conveniently positioned and sized to allow control over the assembled travel case 10. However, when the travel case is disassembled, and when the portions 12, 14 and 16 are nested within one another, the handles 50 and 52 are substantially concealed from view as best shown in FIG. 4. The travel case 10 may also include a set of wheels 60 on the closed bottom end 24 of the second end portion 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The wheels 60 can be individually mounted as shown or on opposite ends of a single axle (not shown) that may extend through a portion of the closed bottom end 24 of the second end portion 14.

[0021] The present invention has been illustrated in relation to particular embodiments which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is described by the claims appended hereto and supported by the foregoing. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf bag travel case for receiving a golf bag and a set of golf clubs, said travel case comprising a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion, said first end portion having an open bottom end and a closed top end, said second end portion having an open top end and a closed bottom end, said middle portion having an open bottom end and an open top end, said portions when assembled together adapted to define an enclosed interior for receiving the golf bag and the set of golf clubs and to define an overall length L of said travel case, said travel case adapted to be disassembled by nesting said portions within one another such that said nested portions have an overall length less than one half of said length L, whereby said travel case may be disassembled into an economy of space.
 2. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said portions are snap fitted together to assemble said travel case.
 3. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said first end portion includes an integral handle.
 4. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said middle portion includes an integral handle.
 5. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said first end portion includes an integral handle portion and said middle portion includes an integral handle.
 6. The travel case of claim 5 wherein both said integral handles are substantially concealed from view when said portions are nested within one another.
 7. The travel case of claim 1 further comprising an elongated strap for securing said portions together when nested within one another.
 8. The travel case of claim 7 wherein said elongated strap secures said first end portion and said middle portion within said second end portion.
 9. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said open bottom end of said first end portion is nested flush with said open top end of said middle portion.
 10. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said open bottom end of said middle portion is nested other than flush with said open top end of said second end portion.
 11. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said open bottom end of said first end portion is nested other than flush with said open top end of said second end portion.
 12. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said closed top end of said first end portion directly overlies said closed bottom end of said second end portion when all said portions are nested within one another.
 13. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said middle portion is nested between said first end portion and said second end portion.
 14. The travel case of claim 1 wherein said closed top end of said first end portion is displaced a distance equivalent to said length L from said closed bottom end of said second end portion when all said portions are assembled.
 15. A golf bag travel case for receiving a golf bag and a set of golf clubs, said travel case comprising a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion, said first end portion having an open bottom end and a closed top end, said second end portion having an open top end and a closed bottom end, said middle portion having an open bottom end and an open top end, said portions when assembled together adapted to define an enclosed interior for receiving the golf bag and the set of golf clubs and to define an overall length L of said travel case, said travel case adapted to be disassembled by nesting said portions within one another such that said nested portions have an overall length less than one half of said length L, said open bottom end of said first end portion nesting flush with said open bottom end of said middle portion, said open bottom end of said first end portion and said open bottom end of said middle portion nesting other than flush with said open top end of said second end portion, said middle portion nesting between said first end portion and said second end portion, and said closed top end of said first end portion directly overlying said closed bottom end of said second end portion when all said portions are nested within one another, whereby said travel case may be disassembled into an economy of space. 